Four players leave Celje

HC Celje Pivovarna Laško face a weakened squad for the rest of the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League season. During the league break not less than four important players left the Slovenian champions.

Renato Vugrinec, Uroš Zorman, Aleš Pajovič and Dragan Gajić are already with their new clubs. None of them is allowed to participate in the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League for another club this season.

After board of directors cut the salaries of the whole Celje team, Renato Vugrinec left the club immediately and made a surprise transfer to the handball club Al Sadd, located in Doha, Qatar.

On the club’s website Vugrinec states that Zagreb playmaker Ivano Balić had recommended the club to him. Last summer Balić participated at the 2010 IHF Super Globe in Doha, reinforcing the team of Al Sadd.

Also the back players Aleš Pajovič and Uroš Zorman could not reach an agreement with the club, so they have left Celje. While Pajovič has not found a new club yet, Zorman joined the Polish champions KS Vive Targi Kielce on a three year contract.

Zorman explained: "Everything happened so quickly. I had already been in contact with Kielce, talking about joining them in the next season. But at the time of the situation in Celje, they contacted me. We agreed that I would move to Poland straight away.”

Last Sunday Uroš Zorman already gave his debut for Bogdan Wenta's team, but he will not be able to play in the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League.

"Of course I am sorry that I can not help my team-mates, but I believe they will advance to the Last 16. For me it is important playing here right now and get used to new environment. So we can start at the beginning of next season from very good basics."

Kielce is before last three matches in Preliminary Round. On 19 February 2011 Kielce, currently fifth in Group A are travelling to Celje.

Dragan Gajić will continue his career at the Slovenian league club Maribor, next season he will move to Montpellier where he signed a three year contract.